ZECHARIAH 2: 6-13
MAKING HIS HABITATION HOLY
[Psalm 2; Revelation 18:4-7, 21]
Though the passage has application to Zechariah's day it is also a prophecy of the future. In a burst of messianic grandeur sparked by disclosing a portion of His future glory in millennial Jerusalem, the Lord shouts out in prophetic anticipation to prepare those who are to be His people. Let us also experience the excitement of God within our text as He continues to reveal the might and glory which result by His final earthly tabernacling or dwelling.
Also found within our text is the Lord's identifying Himself as the LORD yet distinguishing Himself from the LORD God. The LORD here looks forward to His dwelling in Zion, yet, back upon the mission He was sent on by the LORD God. And yet this mission He would be sent on was chronologically still in the future. The certainty of His people's redemption is an amazing miracle of sovereignty (CIM).
I. THE CALLING OUT OF GOD'S PEOPLE, 2:6-7.
(The Calling Out For Purity)
II. THE PRECIOUSNESS OF GOD'S PEOPLE, 2:8-9.
(Sent After Glory)
III. DWELLING IN THE MIDST OF HIS PEOPLE, 2:10-13.
I. THE CALLING OUT OF GOD'S PEOPLE, 2:6-7
(The Calling Out for Purity)
The LORD's promises for Jerusalem have implications for those who had not returned from Babylon. "Ho there! Flee from the north," declares the LORD, "for I have spread you out as the four winds of heaven," declares the LORD.
Because of the topography of the land in Israel the enemies of Israel attacked them from the north. The Babylonian invasion came from the north. (North refers to Babylon in Jer. 1:14f; 6:1, 22, 10:22; Isa. 41:25; 43:6). The final enemy that will attack Israel will come from the north [the bear of the north].
God is here calling out to His people who live within the territory of the enemy to flee. God tells His people to flee because His judgment is about to blaze forth upon the enemies of His people and He did not want His people to be singed because they were too near the flame. This call would certainly apply to those still living in Babylon (Jer. 51:45ff).
The word dispersed is more exactly ‘spread out' meaning His people were scattered out in all directions. [The various deportations from the land scattered them to Assyria, Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia, and neighboring countries which might collectively be described as Babylon, the place of exile.] God had spread them out as part of their judgment. It thus took a divine command and divine power to enable their return. Most of them had not returned from this scattering and so are commanded to return so that they too could experience restoration and avoid His judgment on the nations.
We can see here a dual (or tri) fulfillment prophecy. Though a remnant had returned to ancient Judah, most of the Jews were not living in the promised land. Thus historically this call was fulfilled when more of the Israelites returned to Judah. This prophecy also calls the Jewish people back to Israel, to Palestine, before God judges the north (which could mean Russia) in the great tribulation. We have seen this gathering occurring since 1948 when Israel again became a nation after nearly 2,000 years.
[Another possible fulfillment could be that before our Lord Jesus returns many of His churches that He spread out to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world will not be living in "the Promised Land" of obedience. They will be living in the dessert because they are living in rebellion to God, refusing to heed His commands to defeat the spiritual enemies who keep God's people from receiving the promises of His word.]
Verse 7 continues the message of leaving a situation that was dangerous for them. "Ho, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon."
Though a faithful remnant had returned to the Promised Land most were still in the lands to which they had been exiled. Some of them had grown rich and prosperous in foreign lands. Their love for Jerusalem and all it stood for had cooled down and they were content to be dwellers with the daughters of Babylon. They were reluctant to leave their comfortable homes and occupations. The Lord may not have been summoning every one but He was summoning all those who were putting comfort, job, and security ahead of doing God's restorative work in their sacred city (Isa. 48:20; 52:11; Jer. 50:8; 51:6,9,45; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; Rev. 18:4).
So here the Lord must exhort them to escape out of Babylon, not only because of the goodness of the Lord which is to be shown to His people in their own land, but because of the terror which was about to overtake Babylon (Jer. 51:6,45; Isa. 48:20).
Two years after this prophecy in Zechariah, peril did literally come upon Babylon. Two different men in succession each claiming to be Nebuchadnezzar, the long dead king of Babylon, raised up powerful armies and led rebellions against the Medes and the Persians. King Darius bloodily and brutally put down both rebellions and destroyed the great walls of Babylon so that the city could never again rise to its ancient grandeur and importance.
Notice that the call is to Zion. Zion here can signify all true, spiritually indwelt members of the kingdom of God. Thus, at the same time this call to come out of Babylon is a foreshadowing of a future time when YHWH shall again call His people out of the great harlot, Babylon, before the final great judgment. So the final fulfillment of this prophecy is in the last days when the religious, political and economic systems called Babylon are going to be destroyed (Rev. 17 & 18).
Though a man may be a captive in a sinful state or condition, God expects him to leave it even if that state may be easiest upon his earthly existence. God has designed a specific abiding place for His people of Zion and calls them to abide there because He is looking out for the long term best interests of His people. The place He has called each and every one of us to abide in, to dwell in, is Christ and in the center of His will.
The same need for separation persists through the ages as the words of warning concerning the eschatological Babylon show: ‘Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes' (Rev. 18:4-5).
Christ provided and provides deliverance, "for sin no more hath dominion over you." He has called you out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Why do you linger? Is it because of your ease in Babylon? (Isa. 52:11; Ezek. 20:41; 2 Cor. 6:17). Wake up you sinner and flee as righteous Lot did and put your hand to the plow in God's field and don't look back!
II. THE PRECIOUSNESS OF GOD'S PEOPLE, 8-9.
The LORD offers them His precious protection if they will return in verse 8. For thus says the LORD of Hosts, "After glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.
Here the LORD of Armies tells of His being sent by someone else (Isa. 61:2; Jn. 17:4, 8,18,21; Lk. 4:17-19). The other Divine Being sent Him on a mission after glory, which means to vindicate and to display the glory of God. God will send the Messiah to deal with the nations that plunder His people (1:15). ‘He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you' (2 Thess. 1:6).
This will occur not only in judgments upon those who have oppressed and plundered His people but He was also sent to bring deliverance and salvation to His own people. Not only does belief in Him bring Him glory but subduing and bringing to naught the wicked also brings Him glory.
God's glory is inseparably linked with the fortunes of His people. So the Lord takes serious affront when their welfare is threatened, which He illustrates through calling His repentant remnant, the apple of His eye (Deut. 32:10).
The pupil of the eye is the tenderest, most sensitive and most easily injured part of the visual organ. The slightest touch to it causes us great alarm and thus demands our protection. A similar touch may be applied to any other part of the body with no reaction at all. What comfort that God chooses this organ which is so sensitive to us to describe how sensitive He is to those who touch His people. (How do you become so? See Prov. 7:2).
["The idea is not just that those who act against the LORD's people inflict injury on themselves (that is, touch their own eyes), but that they assault the LORD Himself. There is an intense relationship and identity of interest between the LORD and His people so that He considers actions against them as against Himself (Ps. 105:13-15; Isa. 63:9; Mt. 25:45; Acts 9:4). This is one of many biblical expressions for the protecting care the LORD takes of His own. They are designed to give His people confidence as they grapple with difficult situations and hostile adversaries." [John Mackay, Focus on the Bible, Zechariah, E4 Group]
Dear listener, do you hear in this metaphor God's tender love and faithfulness concern for you? For if you have learned to abide under the shadow of His wing, if you are in a covenant relationship with Jesus, then you can experience the same infinite love with which He loves His only begotten Son, and you are as dear and indispensable to Him as the most delicate member of your body can be to you.
(May you cry out as David did in Ps. 17:8 with new meaning now).
Verse 9 promises divine retaliation for those that hurt God's people. For behold, I will shake My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me.
The expression "shake My hand" denotes the commencement of divine action against the enemies, the abusive ensalvers of God's people. The Messiah-Redeemer will lift up His hand and the world becomes plunder for the slaves. The world system turned upside down at a wave of His omnipotent hand. If the status of the world system can be so radically altered with such ease, that is glory indeed. Such an achievement will be done by One who was sent as final and absolute proof that God had sent (past tense) Him. Mystery of mysteries. YHWH (v. 8) sent by YHWH (v. 9). Those who look deep into these Scriptures can find the triune God.
As a result of this complete restructuring of this world system all final fortunes have been altered. Those that sought victory only in this present world system will be spoil for those who sought victory in the next world. Those that thought they were going after power and success in their freedom from God will discover that they have received slavery. Those that were pursuing servanthood and slavehood to God will suddenly discover themselves powerful victors and conquerors.
This is not only in reference to the political and economic world, but also of a spiritual deliverance of God's people from all external forces that kept them from maturing toward Christ's likeness.
The world today does not acknowledge that Jesus is the only way to God and to a successful life. But when He shakes His hand and removes the veil hiding His eternal greatness, then He who is greatest will be he who was the greatest servant of God. Read Luke 22:24-30.
The Messiah-Redeemer was not sent after the glory of worldly success for His glory was gained through the greatest servant deed of all time and eternity. He died a substitutionary death of vicarious suffering to carry our sin away on a shameful cross. He who wrapped a towel around Himself and wiped His disciples feet was the greatest servant. And when He restructures the world, those that were the greatest servants in proportion to their God-given potential will be those who have the greatest plunder!
III. DWELLING AMIDST HIS PEOPLE, 2:10-13.
The closing section of the chapter develops the promise of the LORD's coming made in 2:5 as a source of encouragement for His people. They should rejoice now in the anticipation of His presence with them. But the prophecy looks beyond God's being with them as they worship in the rebuilt Temple. It looks forward to the way He will come to them in the Messiah (2:10), and beyond that to His second coming when there will be an international recognition of the sovereignty of the LORD (2:11) who will dwell with His people in the heavenly Jerusalem (2:12). The scene of future glory contrasted starkly with the reality of Zechariah's day when the people felt themselves to be insignificant and unable to influence the events taking place around them. The prophecy was intended to strengthen and encourage God's people in the tasks set before them. [John Mackay, Focus on the Bible, Zechariah, E4 Group]
In verse 10 the promised coming of the Messiah causes the daughter of Zion to rejoice. Shout for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," declares the LORD.
The reason for this command to shout and rejoice is because He is coming! Not only is this promise of expectation given to the godly remnant in ancient times, but it is also the "Blessed Hope" of the New Testament. The failure of the Jews to see the two comings of the Messiah is what blinds their hearts to His first coming.
In glorious anticipation of His glorious second coming and the blessed consequences which are to follow, the daughter of Zion is called upon to sing or shout for joy and rejoice. Hearts are to be all aglow with joy and overflowing with praise when they have a glimpse of the beautiful fulfillment of their yearning (Isa. 12:6, Ps. 102:13-22).
The greatest blessing that God achieves for His people will be His dwelling in their midst! That is the supreme cause of joy. Intimate fellowship with God is the glorious prospect. Dwell means settle down, abide, reside, the reference is the personal visible presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, the political and religious capital of the millennial kingdom which shall have a wall of fire around her and glory in her midst.
Here too is the true glory of the church. It is not in external pomp or power of any kind; not in rites and ceremonies, however ostentatious or venerable; not in grand cathedrals and splendid vestments nor in the throb of music and the luster of eloquence, but in the indwelling glory of the invisible God.
For mortals who are sinners to have such favors promised is certainly sufficient to stir up rare jubilation. But the Lord knowing the slothful apathy of the human heart to rightly praise Him for His great mercy so He prompts us into readiness.
The promise to Abraham that ‘all peoples on earth will be blessed through you' (Gen. 12:3) resounds in verse 11. And many nations will join themselves to the Lord in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent Me to you.
The Jews despised and rejected Jesus of Nazareth. So the believing Jewish remnant, taking their life in their hands, preached Him among the Gentiles and persons from all nations - a multitude which no man can number have been and are being brought into the knowledge and fellowship of the messianic kingdom. In that day when our Messiah comes again, His believers, as numerous as nations and out of every nation, will join themselves to Him.
To join the Lord implies union with Him (Gen. 29:34). This joining is in harmony with the New Testament concept of Him being the head and us being His body (Eph. 1:22-23, 5:30; Col. 1:18, 2:19). Oh, the union that one Lord, one Gospel, one Spirit and one baptism are making and will complete in that day.
I will live among you or dwelling in your midst again repeats the promise of verse 10, but now pointing beyond the first coming of Christ. You will know that the LORD Almighty has sent Me to you is crucial in the understanding of this passage. Whoever is speaking has to be different in some sense from the LORD Almighty, and yet the speaker is one whose presence with the people of God is closely linked with the LORD's own presence with them. This can be understood of none other than Christ Himself. He is the one who is sent to provide His people with the blessings of the covenant.
Sufficient signs and proofs have been given to people of all generations. But the people refuse to know God. But on that day the Jews and Gentiles of the world who refused to open their heart and thus, rejected Jesus Christ will know for certain that the Creator and Sovereign Lord of the universe sent Him, both times. [Isa. 56:3-6, Jer. 50:4-5]
Verse 12 states the presence of the Lord will make the land a holy place. And the Lord will possess Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem.
This is the only place in the Bible where the designation Holy Land occurs and it is definitely not referring to present day Palestine but to the land that will be made holy when the Holy One comes to it (3:9).
The land which has been defiled and polluted shall then be cleansed of its defilements and sanctified by the presence of Emmanuel. Thus, not only will the people and their portion be holy (Isa. 62:12) but the land also shall be made holy. When and where God manifests His presence on earth, that land in that time will then be the Holy Land.
The passage ends on a resounding and majestic note in verse 13. "Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy habitation."
Be silent for YHWH is aroused to do His terrible work. All flesh is a universal term for all mankind and reveals us in our frailness, weakness, and inadequacies before the awesome presence of El Shaddi, our Almighty God.
His holy habitation, literally - the habitation of His holiness, is the special and permanent dwelling place of His open glory, where nothing but purity can abide. At that time the entire human race will bow in silence and awe before the King of kings, and the Lord of lords.
The present age has been a time of the Father God's long-suffering, a time of Him refraining from taking decisive action. While He has been patient, refraining from the action which His holiness says He must take, man has been allowed to speak foolish, arrogant and blasphemous words against THE MOST HIGH GOD. But in that day He will silence all flesh and He will judge each man, woman, boy and girl by their thoughts, words and actions which they did or should have done. Here all mankind is called to await this solemn event in an attitude of worshipful reverence and godly fear.
The Jews of that day must have wondered why a holy God was silent so long against all the evils in the world, especially those evils effecting them. Christians today wonder the same thing (2 Pet. 3:8). God is patient wanting all to come to repentance, to salvation. One day to Him is as a thousand days and a thousand days is as one. But one day that day will come.
God has held back His hand, but one day He will stay it no longer (Rev. 5:1-4). As a man is determined to resolve a business all the way to the end no matter what, so will God enter and finish His concern. When God rises up out of His holy habitation, He will not return or hold back His hand until He has accomplished all the work His holiness demands.
CONCLUSION
With jarring impact Zechariah's vision sets forth a grand prophetic panorama of the deliverance of God's people and the establishment of an earthly kingdom. We simply await the One who alone is Holy return to make Palestine the Holy Land. [Is He presently making you holy or like Him?]
Yes, when God arouses Himself and comes to claim a people as His people and a world as His world, what a day of blessing and grace to its fullest that will be for us who are His servants and slaves. God's enemies shall lose evil's empowering and the righteous shall be exalted and be glad. It is the day when those who are servants become great and those who sought to be great become little, and, it will be marvelous in our eyes.
See Revelation 19:5-7a; 11:16.
